Need help: Straight Fluoro or Braid to fluoro leader...pros and cons of each

[Ogandrews]

100% braid to a leader but I almost always use mono as a leader. The supposed advantages of using floro as a leader are vastly outweighed by the benefits of mono in my opinion. Stronger knots, less memory, much more shock resistant, more stretch which is a good thing when using it in combination with braid, just as abrasion resistant. The only time I’m using floro is if I’m using a jerkbait and I think floating mono is going to mess up how it suspends, or if I’m using 60-130lbs floro as a leader when pike and musky fishing. There is not a big enough difference in line visibility to make floro worth it in my book. Unless you are in 30+ feet of visibility, mono is not going to get any less bites and even in that situation I don’t know if there would be a difference. The shock resistance is a huge benefit of mono, especially on hard hook sets in cover and when you have a big fish thrashing next to the boat. That extra stretch can really help keep fish pinned when you are throwing braid that has practically no stretch. Not to mention how much cheaper it is.

[clemsondds]

Thanks! Here is what I am thinking right now. I've noticed that my biggest backlash blowups were on my cranking setups...I've seen several pros recommend straight braid for cranking.  And so I'm going to try straight 20lb braid for my cranking setups and topwater. I'm going to keep fluoro (sunline assassin) on my jerkbait rod. The rest I will use braid to leader (mono-maxima 10lb or assassin).  Any glaring problems with that setup?  Thanks again for the advice

[Bird]

You shouldn't have any issues with a good leader knot, should work fine.

 

I prefer the leader knot to be outside of the spool on cast as it eliminates knot contact with guides. 

[BigTimeBassin]

As a couple others have mentioned. I run braid to leader on just about everything. Mostly mono leaders, but I do run seagaur abrazx on my t rig setup as I fish a lot of rocky areas and appreciate how tough the line is. I use a blood knot for the leader connection and have had no failures at all (knock on wood). 

[clemsondds]

13 minutes ago, Bird said:

You shouldn't have any issues with a good leader knot, should work fine.

 

I prefer the leader knot to be outside of the spool on cast as it eliminates knot contact with guides. 

Do you use braid to leader on all you setups?   Does just having 12 inches or so of fluoro make that much difference?  I'm not doubting you...just trying to figure this all out.  If you are using the flouro leader due to it's lack of visability...do you need more than 12" to make a difference?  I like the idea of having the knot outside the guides...I just didn't know if it was making any difference since it's so short.  

[Bird]

No, the knot is just outside the spool when ready to cast so it's actually 7 - 8ft leader and retie new leader when it gets down to around 3ft.

 

Lots of baits I don't use leaders with.....moving reaction baits like spinnerbaits , buzzbaits, chatterbaits and top water. 

 

I'm not saying leaders are an absolute must but gives me more confidence in clear waters I fish, especially finesse presentations and baits that bass can examine. 

 

You'll also find leaders eliminate treble snags that braid is so accustomed of.

 

 

 

 

[clemsondds]

1 minute ago, Bird said:

No, the knot is just outside the spool when ready to cast so it's actually 7 - 8ft leader and retie new leader when it gets down to around 3ft.

 

Lots of baits I don't use leaders with.....moving reaction baits like spinnerbaits , buzzbaits, chatterbaits and top water. 

 

I'm not saying leaders are an absolute must but gives me more confidence in clear waters I fish, especially finesse presentations and baits that bass can examine. 

 

You'll also find leaders eliminate treble snags that braid is so accustomed of.

 

 

 

 

Oh ok.  I'm confused...if it's just outside the spool, then how does it eliminate contact with the guides...doesn't it go through the guides each time you cast and reel in?  Also, you use braid on spinnerbait and chatterbait?  Mind if I ask what braid you are using?  I think I will go this route as well.  Thanks

[Bird]

1 minute ago, clemsondds said:

Oh ok.  I'm confused...if it's just outside the spool, then how does it eliminate contact with the guides...doesn't it go through the guides each time you cast and reel in?  Also, you use braid on spinnerbait and chatterbait?  Mind if I ask what braid you are using?  I think I will go this route as well.  Thanks

Having the knot just outside of the spool before you cast allows for tension on that section of line from lure weight and the force created by the cast, this centers the knot through the guides.....kinda like a bullseye. 

 

I use 15 - 20# Power Pro with 8 - 12# Sunline sniper. 

[clemsondds]

51 minutes ago, Bird said:

Having the knot just outside of the spool before you cast allows for tension on that section of line from lure weight and the force created by the cast, this centers the knot through the guides.....kinda like a bullseye. 

 

I use 15 - 20# Power Pro with 8 - 12# Sunline sniper. 

cool. I didn't think about that. I guess then it's just when you are retrieving that it hits the guides.  Do you use an fg knot? 

[Bird]

7 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

cool. I didn't think about that. I guess then it's just when you are retrieving that it hits the guides.  Do you use an fg knot? 

I use the Alberto, no failures to report. 

 

The knot never becomes a nuisance with lighter lines.

The bigger the lines, the bigger the knots.